'I use medical marijuana, and now I’m this big drug addict and they’re sending me off to rehab'

Ex-Cowboys David Irving spoke about medical cannabis use in professional football in his first radio interview since his retirement from NFL this year

Irving received an indefinite suspension from the league last month for allegedly violating NFL substance abuse policies. He also received limited suspensions in 2018 and 2017 for drug violations.Instagram

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving spoke passionately about medical cannabis use in professional football in his first radio interview since his retirement from NFL this year.

Irving received an indefinite suspension from the league last month for allegedly violating NFL substance abuse policies. He also received limited suspensions in 2018 and 2017 for drug violations.

Irving, 25, says he uses cannabis to manage the pain he suffers due to injuries sustained playing the sport. But cannabis is strictly verboten in the league, which led to Irving’s decision to end his four-year stint with the Cowboys.

“Eighty percent of each team participates in the use of medical marijuana–if not higher,” Irving said on Tiki and Tierney. “If I’m a player rep for my team and we take all the player reps from every team and we get all our players together and go do something together, what is the NFL going to do? We are the NFL. I think it’s time we start acting like it. You do not have jersey sales without us players. You just don’t. Why are we settling? We make the least amount of money. Nothing is guaranteed. It’s literally our jobs to get concussions every single day. We’re going to get hurt, and then they offer us opioids. I don’t agree with that.”

Irving says that not only have NHL cannabis policies affected his career and health, they have also affected his ability to make money.

“I’ve dealt with defamation,” Irving said. “I choose to medicate with medical marijuana, and now I’m this big drug addict and they’re sending me off to rehab. Now, no matter how great I play, I’m not going to get paid accordingly because I’m this big drug addict guy. It hurts me in the football world and off the field.”

Irving says that if the NFL reconsidered their cannabis policy, he might consider rejoining the league.

“That’s something to think about,” he said. “It does all depend. That will take away a lot of issues that we’re having – I would say I, but we’re having. The medical laws, they are not what they should be… Everyone has their own mindset and own opinion, but if things change, who knows? I can’t tell you at this point.”

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